Hair extension foundation cap with hair attachment template and hair protection insulation

ABSTRACT

The hair extension foundation cap with hair attachment template and hair protection insulation is a base worn on the head to which a wearer attaches pre-made hair wefts for the purpose of hair extension without affecting the natural hair. The template to guide hair attachment is printed, marked or woven to the foundation cap. The hair protection insulation is made of moisture resistant paper and lines the inner cap base to prevent bonding adhesives used for attaching hair wefts to base from coming in contact with a wearer&#39;s natural hair. One embodiment of the invention has a pre-attached anti-stress nape component and a crown hair part component. The device also has an antiskid tabs component that support and retains the light weight stretchable mesh base to a head without retention adhesives, clips, sew-on retentions or abrasive hard surfaces that can cause damage to a wearer&#39;s hair.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The new invention relates to a residual class for devices and methodsused by persons in making their personal grooming and hygiene. The fieldincludes closely related professional devices and methods for treatingor grooming hair; which includes wig-making processes. The new inventionalso relates to devices on which the wearer's false hair is supported.

BACKGROUND ART

To enjoy the convenience of a low cost custom made hair extension deviceespecially of natural or human hair, consumers have resorted to apopular practice known as stocking cap weaving. In stocking cap weavinga stretchable skullcap base is secured to a wearer's head and thenadhesive is used to bond rows of pre-made hair wefts to create styles.This is a manual process has limited style capacity since it is done onthe wearers head. The common stocking cap used is usually one-sized andcan be very uncomfortable, the stocking is also usually very soft andhas no support structure; therefore, it has to be bonded usually withadhesives to the wearer's head. Even when bonded, over time, thestocking cap usually retracts from the wearer's hairline damaging thenatural hairline and becomes unattractive. Overtime built up moistureand lack of ventilation can cause mould to grow the wearers head whenthe base is bonded to the head.

An example of related prior art is a non-patented reference as disclosedat “http://snghair.com/StyleGuide2.aspx” a leading hair distributors:“Secure your hair under a weave or stocking cap. Begin applying ½ inchesapart, ear to ear, from the bottom hairline working towards the top tothe temple area.” This method is known as stocking cap weaving wherein astretchable cap of stocking type fabric is placed on the head of thewearer. The hair is then bonded to the base. This method is thealternative used to make low cost custom fitted human hair extensionhairpiece.

A related prior art that sought to update this manual stocking cap weavemethod is prior art; Hair extension hairpiece or wig device withflexible-grip cap base in U.S. application Ser. No. 13,185-073,Palmer-Rogers. The invention disclosed a completed stretchable mesh basewig for protecting a wearer's hair from damage while providing totalhair coverage; which is a wig having firstly a self-retention capacityof non-adhesive, non-metal, non-abrasive, breathable anti-skid andretention components and secondly hair arrangement that aidsventilation, attractively imitate natural hair yet discreetly reducemanufacturing time and cost. This prior art is a completed wig and doesnot provide an option to allow a user to use the antiskid base andcreate their own hairpiece weave.

In addition many other prior art hairpiece weaves and wigs havecomponents that damage a wearers' own hair. Some of these hair-damagingcomponents are: hard plastic or metal clips, hooks, wire retentioncomponents, non-breathable materials that block ventilation and stophair growth, rigid stiff material that rests directly on the wearershair or scalp and cause friction, sharp edges and ridges on stiffribbons and stiff lace and the edge of the hair wefts that causefriction and hair breakage, structures that pull the wearers hairlinesuch as the popular stocking cap or wig cap and adhesives tend to peelstrands of hair from the scalp when being removed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Brief Summary of the Invention

The new invention is a lightweight stretchable mesh base hair extensionfoundation cap with embedded template lines to guide hair attachment anda moisture resistant insulation that protects a wearers hair frombonding adhesives used for hair weft attachment. One embodiment of theinvention has a pre-attached nape and hair part components. The devicehas a non-adhesive, non-metal, clip-less, non-invasive retention systemwherein an antiskid tabs component supports, retains and keeps said wigpositioned on a head. The retention system has long narrow antiskid tabsmade of a breathable rigid mesh connected selected sections of an outerlayer of a tensioned stretchable periphery band and the anti-skid tabseffect a periphery with alternate stretchable and non-stretchable areason the hair extension foundation cap. It provides a wearer with afoundation cap to which they can attach hair wefts in natural hairgrowth pattern and complete their own custom made hairpiece weave. Theembodiment of the foundation cap with pre-attached hair componentsprovides a device with components that would be very difficult if notimpossible to produce on a wearer's head. The invention provides analternative to users who might desire a device that allows them tominimize cost and have the flexibility to choose the length and type ofhair to complete their hairpiece. For example a wearer can simply usethe current invention of the foundation cap with the pre-attached humanhair components then use cheaper synthetic hair to complete theremaining undone portion.

This new invention allows a practice known as stocking cap weaving theto be completed in a modern and efficient way by providing a device withpre-attached hair components of a hair part component or what iscommonly known in the art as a crown closure. An anti-stress nape haircomponent on one embodiment protects the wearer's own hair and thelongevity of the hairpiece with an arrangement that enables the base tobe properly aligned on the head and over the nape hair while providingflexibility to prevent stress tangling at the back of the head and thispre-attached nape component would be difficult to achieve manually on awearer's head. The device also has a removable moisture resistant coatedor wax paper insulation that lines that inner base to prevent seepagewhen adhesive is the bonding method used to attach hair wefts to thehair extension cap base. The new device has the capacity to be affixedto the wearers own natural hair if they choose to do so, but has aself-retention capacity that other fabric base prior arts lack.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The current invention provides users a device with ease of use and speedof application and the main objectives are to:

1) Provide a device that simplify the process attaching pre-made hairwefts used to complete a cap base hair extension by providing a basewith lines to guide alignment of hair wefts which is critical toproducing a natural looking finished product

2) Provide a device that does not require or depend on the length of awearer's hair for functionality by providing a device that covers theall the wearer's own natural hair and can be used for hair at any stageof growth or hair-loss. If needs be a wearer with longer hair may simplysecure their own hair in a chignon or braids to allow the softstretchable base to conformation to a natural shape. While women who areexperiencing advance hair loss can confidently wear this device becauseof the high self retention capacity provided by the anti-skid tabs

3) Provide a device that does not negatively impact or damage a wearer'snatural hair via a moisture resistant insulation that prevents seepagewhen adhesive is used to attached hair wefts to the hair extensionfoundation cap

4) Provide a device that fits securely to a wearer's head without theuse of adhesives clips, rigid sharp edged ribbons or other objects thatcan harm a wearer's natural hair

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Description of drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrating template lines to guide hair attachment

FIG. 2 illustrating stitch-line of pre-attached hair components

FIG. 3 illustrating a plan view of the hair extension foundation cap

EXPLANATION OF MARKS AND SYMBOLS

Illustrations as set forth in FIG. 1-FIG. 3:

-   10.1 Stretchable mesh fabric base for airflow-   20.1 Center panel that is wider at the front and stretches    lengthwise-   30.1 Side panels that stretch downwards-   40.1 Stretchable areas of the band-   50.1 Antiskid reinforcement tabs made of rigid non-stretch mesh    fabric-   60.1 Front antiskid reinforcement tab of rigid non-stretch mesh    fabric-   70.1 Scalp colored overlay fabric for preferred embodiment said    overlay has hair strands interconnected before attachment for    embodiment two-   80.1 Periphery band of stretchable mesh fabric-   90.1 Opening at the ear section of the periphery band-   100.1 Support component for opening at ear section made of 85%    percentage of nylon and 15% spandex.-   100. 2 Additional elastic support: ¾ inch (1.9 cm) wide×2.5 inches    (6.4 cm) long-   110.1 The fixed micro hair part with imitation scalp presentation    having a vertical hair weft border, a uniformed line of implanted    hair strands, a compressed zigzag stitch line that imitate thicken    hair root and a second uniformed line of implanted hair strands that    imitate scalp with hair growth-   120.1 Uniformly narrow opening between the left and right arrays of    hair wefts that forms the fixed hair part feature, the opening or    demarcation area is approximately ¼″ (6 mm) wide to reduce the    manually implanted or ventilated hair strands-   130.1 Template lines to guide attachment of hair wefts to the base-   140.1 Knotted area for the permanent or fixed micro hair-part-   150.1 Anti-stress nape arrangement with hair wefts vertically    oriented, these vertically aligned wefts are approximately half inch    ½″ (1.27 cm) short in order to form a flat textured layer of hair    that covers the back of the fabric base and imitate natural nape    hair

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Best Mode of Carrying Out theInvention

The drawing in FIG. 1, illustrates the base of the current invention towhich human or synthetic hair is attached. The best mode to carry outthe new invention is a preferred embodiment with the followingcomponents and process:

The base is 10.1 a lightweight stretchable mesh fabric with a percentageof nylon and spandex. The antiskid reinforcement tabs 50.1 are made of astiff nylon netting fabric popularly known as crinoline or stiff tulle.The center panel 20.1, which is wider at the front that stretcheslengthwise and two side panels 30.1 stretch downwards to adapt to theshape and size of the wearer's head. The periphery is a band 80.1 madefrom a stretchable fabric of 85% percentage of nylon and 15% spandex.The band fabric is folded to form a smooth durable edge. The band is 3inches (7.6 cm) wide. The circumference of the band is based oninternational hat sizes, for example hat-size 7 ½ measures 23.5 inches(59.7 cm) and is regarded as large. The large would be a popular size,but the scope to manufacture a variety of sizes is one of the advantagesof this new invention as opposed to prior arts that is one-size-fits-allfoundation. The opening at the ear section of the periphery band 90.1 is1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The opening is reinforced with the stretchablefabric of 85% percentage of nylon and 15% spandex 100.1. Thereinforcement fabric for this ear section is folded to form a smoothdurable edge that can rest on the wearer's ear crease withoutirritation. The remaining opening easily accommodates the ear. 100.2 isa ¾ inch (1.9 cm) elastic member about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long with asoft textured surface is connected to the inside of the cap base atleast ¾ inch (1.9 cm) above the opening for each ears. With the openingnot being the entire width of the band and the additional elasticsupport it allows continuous tension that helps hold the soft structureof the base in place. The fabric overlay 70.1 for the frontreinforcement tab protects a wearer's hair from the rigid reinforcementmesh and provides a foundation for an imitation scalp presentation

The ant-skid reinforcement tabs 50.1 are made from stiff nylon nettingfabric popularly known as crinoline or stiff tulle. The stiff net isdouble folded lengthwise and stitched on the outside layer of the basebelow the attached hair. Placing the tabs on the outer layer of the baseprevents the rough texture from coming in contact with the wearer's hairor scalp. The side and back reinforcement tabs are 2.5 inches (6.4 cm)long and ¾ inches (1.9 cm) wide. The front reinforcement tab 60.1 is 3″(7.62 cm) wide, 4″ (10.16 cm) long. The tabs are placed in a longitudeposition along the periphery band. The front reinforcement tab 60.1 hasa scalp colored fabric 70.1 the fabric stretchable fabric can be thesame as the periphery band of the wig. This scalp colored overlay formsthe imitation scalp at the crown and forehead area of the base.

The invention has an embodiment with a pre-attached hair part componentthat conceals exposed top edges of hair wefts attached to the foundationcap by a wearer. The pre-attached hair part component has strands ofhair interconnected to scalp colored fabric overlay that covers thefront antiskid tab. The hair strands forms a hair part that is eitherfixed or variably selected by a wearer. For a variable wearer-selecthair part, 70.1 the scalp colored mesh overlay of the front antiskid tabhas multiple strands of hair implanted or ventilated prior to beingattached to foundation cap base. The implanted hair strands covers anarea large enough to allow a wearer to selectively make hair part thecrown and forehead area. For a fixed micro hair part with imitationscalp, the crown area of foundation cap has arrays of hair weftsattached to the front antiskid tab. The arrays of hair wefts are slantedtowards the center of the forehead from both left and right directionand have a lengthwise vertical hair weft border 120.1 overlay thatconceals the slanted arrays. The vertical hair weft border is concealedby a uniformed line of implanted, knotted or ventilated hair strandsfollowed by a dual function compressed zigzag stitch-line that securesthe line of implanted or knotted hair strands in a permanently fixedposition over edges of the hair weft border. The zigzag stitch lineeffects a simulated thickened hair root and a second line of implantedor knotted hair strands seamlessly blend with the zigzag stitch line andform 110.1 a natural looking hair-part with visible imitation scalp. Theopen or blank demarcation area; 140.1 is only ¼ inch (6 mm) wide and3″(7.62 cm) long but can vary in length. The narrow opening or blankdemarcation area makes it possible to use the two uniformed lines ofventilated hair and the zigzag stitch line to form a complete naturallooking hair part with imitation scalp presentation.

In FIG. 2, 130.1 illustrate template lines to guide attachment ofpre-made hair wefts to the foundation cap. Attaching hair wefts in aproper position is critical to achieving a natural looking finishedproduct. A manual method for achieving a cap base with pre-marked linetemplate is to use a head mold to hold the foundation cap then using aconcave outer mould with the prescribed open pattern areas through whichto apply a non-toxic ink or dye to the outer surface of the finishedfoundation cap. Another manual method is to use a head mould withengraved attachment lines to guide application of non-toxic ink or dyeto finished foundation cap. An automated method of achieving pre-markedtemplate lines on the foundation cap to use a flat or one dimensionalimage of the hair weft attachment lines of a completed hair extensioncap weave device and have the image woven or printed on each segment ofthe stretchable mesh fabric for that forms the completed cap base priorto assembling. For example the lines would be ½″ (1.27 cm) apart and theside panels of the base would have vertical lines and center panel wouldhave horizontal lines. When the side and center panels are stitchedtogether to form the contoured base the lines elongate around thecurvature of a head with the lines on the side panel slanted. The linetemplate guides hair weft attachment to form natural hair growth patternand the line formation can vary to produce different hair styles.

The elastic support 100.1 extends across the width of the opening at theear to help size adjustment. It provides support for the base and helpseliminate the need for retention devices such as clips, comb clips,hooks and adhesives along with the narrow anti-skid reinforcement tabsalong the periphery band with alternate stretch space between each tabcreates a flexible grip pattern of arrangement to allow a firm andsecure but comfortable fit that also eliminate the need for retentiondevices such as clips, comb clips, hooks and adhesives.

The anti-stress nape hair component 150.1 spans a depth of 2″ (5.06 cm)and 4″ (10.16 cm) across the neck-back area. The wefts are placed in alongitude position, and the hair strands are and shortened to ½″ (1.27cm) length. The hairs are positioned with alternate spaces in betweeneach piece and are positioned from left and right inwardly. The hairstrands overlap and cover each inner weft-edge. This arrangement forms aflat textured layer of hair that allows total coverage of the wearer'snape hair. It also allows the wearer's clothing to glide over theseshortened nape hairs. This anti-stress nape arrangement prevents thehair strands at the nape from becoming easily stressed and tangled fromfriction with the wearers clothing. The vertical positioning andshortened hair strands allow the wefts to discreetly cover thefoundation cap with a natural looking textured layer of hair whileallowing the base to maintain its flexibility and prevent friction onthe wearer's own nape hair in a manner that would not be possible if thehair in the nape section is positioned horizontally as in other priorarts.

The moisture resistant insulation for the hair extension foundation capis made of a lightweight double sided dry wax paper. It prevents seepageof adhesive used for bonding hair wefts to the foundation cap. Itprotects the user's hair from damaging effects of bonding adhesives. Thedetachable insulation is removable prior to attaching hair wefts whenwefts are attached by means of sewing or after attaching hair wefts whenadhesive is the means of attachment. The insulation is oval-shaped andhas an elastic band around the periphery that contours the paperstructure as well as enables expansion and contraction of the paperstructure when in use. The insulation is attached to the inner frontarea of the hair extension foundation cap and allows the hair extensioncap base to be partially lifted away from the insulation but allows theinsulation to remain fixed during the weaving process. A dry wax paperwith a twenty pounds (21#) base weight provides strength, flexibilityand a surface that prevents paper residue from transferring to the innersurface of the cap base due to the wet adhesive and also enables the useof heated air from a blow dryer to be used for quick drying of bondingadhesives during attachment of hair wefts used to complete the hairextension process.

Applicant has set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out theinvention into a complete operative device The present disclosure havingbeen thus described makes particular reference to the preferred mode ofcarrying out the invention thereof, it will be obvious that variouschanges and modification may be made therein without departing from thescope of the present disclosure as defined

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A hair extension foundation cap, comprising: aridge-less interior surface; an elastic member extending around thecircumference of the hair extension foundation cap; a center panelhaving a wider front than back, wherein the center panel is configuredto stretch in a direction between the front and the back; templateguidelines positioned on an exterior surface, the template guidelinesbeing configured to guide attachments of hair wefts to the hairextension foundation cap; and antiskid reinforcement tabs comprised of anon-stretch mesh fabric, the antiskid reinforcement tabs including afront reinforcement tab positioned on the front of the hair extensionfoundation cap and circumference tabs positioned along a circumferenceof the hair extension foundation cap, wherein the circumference tabs areplaced along the elastic member.
 5. The hair extension foundation cap ofclaim 1, further comprising: a moisture resistant insulation layerpositioned on the ridge-less interior surface of the hair extensionfoundation cap, the moisture resistant insulation layer being comprisedof wax paper.
 6. The hair extension foundation cap of claim 1, whereinthe template guidelines are woven into the exterior surface.
 7. The hairextension foundation cap of claim 1, wherein the template guidelines areprinted into the exterior surface.
 7. The hair extension foundation capof claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of panels, wherein thetemplate guidelines associated with each of the plurality of panels isdifferent.
 8. The hair extension foundation cap of claim 7, furthercomprising: a weft border positioned between two of the plurality ofpanels, wherein the template guidelines associated with the two of theplurality of panels are slanted towards the weft border.